Disney Completes Acquisition Of Lucasfilm

The FTC gave Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise — originally announced October 30 — a green light earlier this month, clearing a typical 30-day regulatory waiting period and therefore any regulatory hurdles. The just-released announcement says that based on today’s closing price of Disney shares ($50), the deal has a total value of about $4.06B, slightly higher than when the first numbers came out. Here’s the release:

BURBANK, Calif., December 21, 2012 – Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) announced today that Disney has completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Lucasfilm to the Disney family,” said Iger. “Star Wars is one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time and this transaction combines that world class content with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets, which we believe will generate growth as well as significant long-term value.”

Under the terms of the merger agreement, at closing Disney issued 37,076,679 shares and made a cash payment of $2,208,199,950. Based upon the closing price of Disney shares on December 21, 2012 at $50.00, the transaction has a total value of approximately $4.06 billion.

Lucasfilm’s assets include its massively popular Star Wars franchise, operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production, as well as a substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies. It operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound.

I can see them off-loading ILM and Skywalker Sound at some point. They don’t seem like core assets to Disney. Who knows? Maybe they could merge those operations with the Imagineering unit to create a Hollywood version of Bell Labs. Unlikely.

robert Not So Wise • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

thats a really cool idea.

-RnsW

repsac • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Are you crazy? ILM is the most ground breaking VFX house of all time. Skywalker Sound, NOBODY can touch them. They do all of Pixar’s movies. Not saying there won’t be any changes or restructuring but dumping the 2 most successful and ground breaking divisions in all of Lucasfilm does not seem likely.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Miramax was the most ground breaking “indie” studio of all time… in the 90s.

Johnny Ringo • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

I’m not bashing ILM, Skywalker Sound, or any of the technical wizards in the George Lucas galaxy. I’m just saying they are not the kinds of businesses that Disney is usually involved with. Selling or spinning off those assets might make sense from a shareholder’s perspective. In the long run, independence could be better for ILM and Skywalker Sound because they would be free from the red tape, bureaucracy, and micro-management that comes with being part of a giant multinational.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

I’m more worried about LucasArts.

$4bn down the tube • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

I really think Disney is being overly optimistic about how much revenue they’ll reap from Lucasfilm. Firstly, Star Wars. The prequels left many jaded with the franchise, and The Phantom Menace 3D bombed. If the rumor that the new films will focus on a Jedi academy – think Justin Bieber lookalikes with lightsabers – turns out to be TRUE, these films will be d.o.a. Next, Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford IS the franchise, and he’s 70 and his whip cracking days are far behind him. Plus, Paramount still owns distribution rights. So what’s left? Willow and Howard the Duck? Lucas is a wily businessman, and he cashed in his chips while he could. Disney will end up looking like schmucks.

Brian • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

lsb • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

People were saying the same thing about the $4B price for Marvel and the $7B price for Pixar and we all know how those turned out.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Why, did they just break even today?

Kenny • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Now Iger, back to Hasbro and Scripps Networks.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Nah, I think Paws Inc./Garfield next would make more sense.

Clareece Precious Jones • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

To those posting earlier in this thread, the Star Wars toys & crossovers at Disneyland today are NOTHING new — they’ve been popular items for years, even more so now with the amazing success & popularity of the all-new Star Tours ride — as well as the continued popularity of the Indiana Jones ride. The Indiana Jones ride is awesome and remained a great draw even during the many many years between the 3rd & 4th films. The Star Wars stuff has been a big hit at Disney for ages. WAKE UP. This makes perfect sense. This gives Disney the opportunity to design attractions & products in the Star Wars world, and to produce new, hopefully quality, films to keep the adventures going. They are very clear about wanting a strong script, strong director, etc. They know exactly what was wrong with the prequels. Also, while those Jedi Academy rumors are indeed just rumors for now, many many bestselling books based on this spin-off idea have already been successful – so again, nothing new. Whole new generations are gonna be loving Star Wars for years to come. Deal with it.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

With Disney having only one DreamWorks movie on its 2013 film slate, I can understand why they want a SW movie every two years.

Brian • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

I think it might be cool. But yoda is dead. Vader is dead. Also the chanseler too. Who’s the bad guy? And three more movies? Whoa.

elpidio • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

well it might go back in time like the old republic. just like they did when the 4th used to be the 1st.

Todd • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

The rumor is that Marvel will be producing Star Wars comics around 2015, around the time the new movie comes out. Disney is not renewing the license with Dark Horse Comics.

No surprise on that though…

TE • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

two words:
KATHY KENNEDY

Dan • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Lucas is this generation’s Walt Disney, so maybe it’s only fitting they own it/him….

Kenny • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Jim Henson was this generation’s Walt Disney. John Lasseter was this generation’s Walt Disney. Steve Jobs was this generation’s Walt Disney. George Lucas was this generation’s Walt Disney.

And you know what? I agree. Good lookin’ out, Disney.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Was Stan Lee?

Here In Flyover • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Recast Indiana Jones with a younger, tougher actor. The first Raiders was awesome but not because of Ford. How he got to be as big a star as he once was is beyond me. He has absolutely no charisma and always came across as a bit of a pussy as well. Tom Selleck would have been much better had he been allowed to take the roll when it was offered to him.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Before or after he was Magnum, P.I.?

your humble narrator • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Are you serious? Harrison was incredibly popular at the time after Star Wars and TESB. His on-screen charisma (off-, not so much) is a large part of the Indy character.

Did Tom Selleck get offered a white, brown or multi-grain “roll”?

Kenny • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

The Jim Henson Company. Heck, it’d be cheap.

Kenny • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Meant to say they should buy that next. It’d be cheaper compared to the last few.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

But what are you going to do about Brian and Lisa Henson, who both seem more interested in running the Company as a hobby than a business?

Kenny • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Make them a nice offer (though not as nice as EM.TV’s), say they can still do their little improv shows, have a producer/exec. prod. credit on future film/TV projects, and maybe leave the “Jim Henson” logo on their projects, as opposed to “Disney” or “Disney-Jim Henson.”

But that’s just me. It wouldn’t rock the industry like Marvel or Lucasfilm, but it could be good due to their long relationship. Plus, a Muppet-less, and direction-less, Henson Company is sort of sad to see.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Iger would definitely change “Jim Henson’s” to just “Henson”, with The Muppets maybe being “Disney-Henson”.

I just still think Disney over paid BUT I’m sure they’ll find a way to milk the value

I agree and disagree on Lucas Sound etc yes best on the business but I too agree I’m not certain i see Disney keeping that for years and years success or not. So Muppets, Star Wars, Comics, Dreamworks, Disney ever creating from within any longer? All smart assets but for a company wanting to focus on their core brand years back by dumping their various in house action labels – wow.

Kenny • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

If you’re Disney, and you can buy Spider-Man and Star Wars, you buy Spider-Man and Star Wars.

ILDC • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

“dumping their various in house action labels” = Hollywood Pictures, AKA the Sphinx That Stinks?

Bob • on Dec 21, 2012 2:03 pm

If it means removing Lucas from the majority of the decision making on future films, great. He single-handedly ruined the second series of films. Kathleen Kennedy is a welcome relief. Just don’t take much of his “consulting” seriously, please.